Pregnancy Week 33

Learn From the Specialists

What Your Baby is Doing This Week

Your baby has developed millions of neurons in his brain and he's already learning about his world in-utero. He can hear, touch, and his eyes can detect light. He will spend a lot of time sleeping at this point and babies even experience REM (rapid eye movement) sleep - this is the sleep stage where dreams occur.

Your baby's lungs are almost completely mature and fat will be continue to be added to your baby's body for both protection and warmth. These final few weeks will be the time when your baby will put on weight.

What Your Body is Doing This Week

Many women start childbirth classes this week and learn their options for dealing with the pain of labor. Pain relief can be totally naturally using breathing techniques such as you will learn in a Lamaze class. Also there are medical procedures such as an epidural where anesthetic is introduced through a small, thin catheter in your lower back. Also sometimes called a spinal block. You won't feel a thing with an epidural but you also won't be able to push as nature intended. Many women now opt to experience the birthing of their child totally natural and find they feel fantastic just hours after delivery. No one way to manage the delivery of your child is right for everyone, although you don't have to make a decision just yet; talk to your health care provider about the best birthing options for your own situation.

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